Sometimes the pain is just too much
When you know you will no longer
See their face or feel their touch.
Everyone says “daddy’s little girl,”
But what do you do when he’s ripped from
your world?

Daddies are there to comb your hair
And frighten away your cares.
Daddies are made to be strong
And show you right from wrong.
When daddy’s taken from you, what do you
do?

Then I sat and thought about everything my
daddy taught.
He taught me to be strong and always carry on.
He taught me to do my best and never quit.

Even when life dealt him a raw deal,
He stayed strong and tried to carry on.
He did his best and never quit.
He always held his head high and kept going on.

So, Daddy, this promise is to you.
I will stay strong and carry on.
I will do my best and never quit.

I will hold my head high and keep going on.
I know you’re looking down on me
With a smile on your face,
A heart full of pride, because you know I did not quit.

Lighting rips through the sky
Thunder claps loudly in the night
A gun shot is heard
A life is taken
What happened? She was the love of his life
Why did he end it by taking her life?

He called his Mother
Confessing his crime
He sounded so desperate
He had lain with her body for days
He couldn’t explain why he had done it
It was all a haze

His Mother was terrified she rushed to her son
But when she got there
She couldn’t believe her eyes, what had he done?
There was blood everywhere
And he was in the corner
Oh how his poor Mother cried
He had also taken his own life
Oh how his Mother cried

Today I was looking out the window

I saw your tulips all wilted and withered

I knew how they felt oh so well

You’re with God in heaven and I try not to be bitter.

But it’s oh so hard…… after twenty years

Waking with you by my side

And now I wake and you’re no longer here

When will my eyes dry from tears?

Today I looked out the window

Your Tulips looked so wilted and withered

Then a rainbow appeared right above them

And I knew it was you saying cheer up

I’m still here I didn’t go

So outside into the sunshine I went

To your little Tulip patch

With garden hose in hand

I watered and picked weeds until the day was spent

Tomorrow I know will be brighter

And my heart may be a little lighter

Because even though I can’t touch you dear

You’re still in my heart and all around

Springing forth in my memories

Like the Tulips you planted…. and left for me here.

Do you have an Anniversary coming up? Are you trying to find something to do that will be one your spouse will remember forever? Are you on a tight budget? Well you can have an anniversary that will show your spouse just how much they mean to you and it doesn’t require lots of money. All it requires is a little imagination and a little planning. Maybe you have to work that day or maybe you’ll be out of town on that special day. Well you can celebrate on any day it doesn’t necessarily have to be the day of your anniversary. Just show them how much you love them. Tell them you love them all day show them how you feel.
Start the day by serving breakfast in bed. If you’re good at cooking you could prepare pancakes or waffles or buy them frozen if you just don’t have the cooking ability. After they are done cooking cut them in little heart shapes with a cookie cutter. Also serve some fresh fruits such as strawberries, sliced pineapple, and cantaloupe. Whatever, you know that they like, plus feeding someone finger food can spice things up. Breakfast makes your lover feel that you care for them. By taking time to prepare breakfast for your partner you will help them feel cared for and cause a very romantic time. The idea of breakfast in bed makes romantic time so different and special because not two many lovers do this. Another thing you could do is make a list of 100 reasons why you love them everyone wants to know they are loved and knowing why is even more special. You can be sure that after breakfast (maybe before it is done) you are going to be making love. And don’t let this be the end of the special day. The both of you could go for a walk together or maybe visit a museum whatever you decide as long as you spend the day together. Take them out to eat that evening. Or you could plan a picnic in your backyard under the setting sun, in the living room or bedroom complete with candles and a blanket on the floor. Run a nice bubble bath and give them a sponge bath and be prepared for the favor to be returned. There are so many things that you can do to make your anniversary special and it doesn’t require money. As long as you have love you are set for an anniversary filled with love and memories to last a lifetime. Put your mind and heart to work you know your spouse better then anyone plan the day that will show them they are the one who holds the key to your heart.

Marriages begin and some marriages end but in between falls love, anger, and sometimes dislike or even hatred. Couples who have stayed together for many years seem to all say the same thing: you have to both be dedicated, you have to learn to forgive, and you have to be willing to love, no matter what. Young couples who pledge their undying love to each other often find themselves splitting up after a sudden, heated argument. Things are said that can’t be forgiven and sometimes there’s no repairing the damage. But if you truly love someone and they truly love you (which is the reason you are supposed to get married anyway) then your marriage is worth keeping alive. Keep the romance alive, never go to bed angry and above all else if or when you fight fight fare.
Most people, when arguing, have a tendency to blame the spouse for whatever has upset them. Experts say that this is a major part of why arguments lead to divorce. In addition, couples often threaten each other with anything from leaving to accusing them of things, during an argument. These threats and accusations are what eventually become unforgivable and lead to further problems in the marriage. Try to talk to each other about what ever the problem is in a calm maner. Treat them as you would want to be treated. You don’t like to yelled out and called names and neither do they. After awhile marriage seems to lose the spark that it use to have you no longer get butterfly’s when they kiss you but this isn’t what makes for a good marriage anyway. Everyone experience the butterfly’s of a first kiss with someone that doesn’t mean there is love that will stand the test of time. Keep your marriage alive yes it will take work after all real life isn’t a hot steamy romance like in the movies. Tell your spouse you love them everyday, plan a night out together or better yet a night in with the kids at grandma’s. Light candles in the bathroom and run a bubble bath for two and enjoy washing and exploring each others body’s. Then head to the bedroom with candle light in their tow and romantic music playing softly. There are many ways to keep that spark alive to keep the marriage burning hot with passion and most important of allis, the time you spend on your marriage will be worth it when you grow old with the love of your life.

Juarez, Mexico

Off the I-10 corridor, border crossing from El Paso, Texas
One of the easiest entry points from the United States into Mexico, this battle-ground looking entrance to Mexico enters a talented city with music and culture, marketing, vending, and history. It’s dirty and grimey, but filled with great shopping deals and things to do. Lots of rumors that its a place of crime, thievery, murder, kidnapping, and the lot of stolen children - I did not experience any of the sort. Though several visitors talking with enroute in and out of the border walk, discovered a friendly city, though we heard tales from the mouths of the fishes themselves who have said they’ve been robbed at night by both policemen and muggers, but apparently only the crimes struck toward evening. Apparently the policemen who robbed one Texan guy were fired and arrested after the incident once he reported it to internal affairs. But he does not travel there at night. Many of the hole-in-the-wall bars do seem seedy, and I wouldn’t travel there alone at night myself and I travel some rough areas along my journeys. A friendly chap in a dental/pharamacy suite came up to us and guided us to the market (with an unexpected request for a tip afterwards) even though he said he’d show us since he was walking that way to home anyhow. He offered many deals of steroids, pharmaceuticals, and drugs he said he could get for anyone at his pharmacy. Shady, shady, shady. Many stares and many friendly faces, we hit the Juarez market and I bartered down a black n’ grey poncho, hand woven hammock, a bottle of vanilla, a bottle of tequila, some culinary delights, and snacks for the road - spending a mere $35 USD (all I had). Tried to barter down the hand woven blankets to less than $5 (we reached $5 from $15) but Las Cruces has blankets for $5 marked, so why bother? We walked by the cathedral and had some burritos at a taco stand. Cruised through the flea market then headed off back across the border. Mexico charges you an admission fee of 35 cents, and an exit fee of 35 cents. If you buy liquor across the border, when exiting the State of Texas (unlike all the other American States who let you bring over a liter free of duty), Texas charges a hefty liquor tax. For a bottle of tequila I paid $6.50 USD for, I was imposed a $1.00 tax. Overall the visit was good … but I did want a shower afterwards …

Rating: 3 stars out of 5. Visited 9/17/05.

Historic Old Mesilla, New Mexico
www.vivamesilla.org
“After the shopping and dining, the rest is history.” “- Over 50 unique shops, - award winning restaurants and cafes, - museums and galleries, - lodging.

Mesilla (”Little Tableland”) is the best-known and most visited historical community in Southern New Mexico. Since its’ beginning, around 1848, Mesilla has had a major influence on the economic, cultural, historical, and political life of the Mesilla Valley. From the Gadsden Purchase, to the Civil War, to the Butterfield Stage Coach Trail, to the trial of Billy the Kid, to being a lively social center in the 1880s–Mesilla has been a prominent part of the rich history of the Southwest.

Today, many of Mesilla’s population of nearly 2,200 residents are direct descendents of Mesilla’s early settlers. As such, they have retained many of the “hearty folk” qualities of the original founders. Mesilla has a rich and diverse heritage with the integration of Indian, Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo-American cultures. Perhaps the greatest import of the past history is the physical character of the community itself. The traditional adobe structures and architectural features modified through time because of style and technology still remain as a reminder of the long and significant history of the town.”(description from the brochure and www.vivamesilla.org website)

With a local tourguide/friend showing me around … exploring the plaza … the shops … the cuisine … I was extremely impressed. With a taste of reminensce of Santa Fe and Taos, I had no idea this small city of Las Cruces had a small village attached to it with such splendor as Old Mesilla. Very quiet, relaxing, and enchanting. A piece of the Land of Enchantment one thinks of about New Mexico. I give it a 4 1/2 stars out of 5. (visited 9/15/05)

Santa Fe, New Mexico
http://www.santafe.org/
Santa Fe is a whole different world. artistic. alternative. traditional. artsy. crafty. ethereal. Its a city that embraces the natural environment blending in more than any other city in North America does. Its beautiful adobe mud-brick architecture camoflages itself right into the natural earth. Visit this city where art takes reign over all else. Close to the mountains for hiking and skiing … this is a city you’ll never regret a single day visiting.

a art building in Santa Fe, NM
©2005 Technogypsie.com, click photo for larger view

Church on Washington Ave in Santa Fe

©2005 Technogypsie.com, click photo for larger view

random building shot from around Santa Fe
©2005 Technogypsie.com, click photo for larger view

Hyde Memorial State Park
www.emnrd.state.nm.us/nmparks
Email: rgpadilla@state.nm.us
740 Hyde Park Road
Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 983-7175
Entering into beautiful Hyde Memorial State Park as it was dark - these photos were taken the next morning and how breathtaking the scenery, serenity (except for some motorcycles that were camping near me), gave me a overlook view of Santa Fe. Apparently has a great picnic area (which I didn’t have time to visit), but the campground had quite a few spaces - though up a tedious gravel road with some drainage gullies I nearly fell into that night trying to find a camping spot. NOT recommended to arrive at this site at night. Hyde Park is located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and is lush with evergreens, aspen, pines, and shrubs. It’s listed to be very populated with deer, raccoon, fox, coyote (which I did hear at night), squirrels, porcupines, butterflies, and birds. Winter time offers lots of sports from cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, and sledding. “This park is named after Benjamin Talbot Hyde, devoted educator of America’s youth. His family donated the 350 acres which constitute the park to the State of New Mexico in 1934. Situated at an elevation of 8,500 feet in the scenic Sangre de Cristo mountains, it is one of the oldest state parks in New Mexico. Facilities include a picnic area, campground, skating pond, and sledding area” ~(New Mexico Scenic Historic Marker). It’s a good campground … given a 3 1/2 on a scale of 5 rating. I slept good. It was quiet at night (with an occasional coyote howl) and very dark. I fell fast asleep leaving my rainfly off so I could gaze up at the amazing stars. It was very cold, down in the 40’s … for a summer camping evening.

Hyde State Park, Santa Fe, NM ©2005 Technogypsie.com, click photo for larger view

Drive up to Hyde State Park ©2005 Technogypsie.com, click photo for larger view

A friend of mine was nice enough to pass along an amusing little quiz that lets you know just what kind of 60’s person you are.

To take the quiz follow this link.

It seems Australians are just as obsessed with the Baby Boomer generation as we are, and spend just as many hours analyzing, celebrating and appreciating the… ah… impact of this generation on our way of life.

Found on the Sydney Morning Herald ; excerpt:

Last century, when boomers were young, anyone in their 50s was considered old. It was a time to settle in with a cup of tea and a scotch finger biscuit and wait to die. These days, a person in their 50s is just as likely as their children to use both the internet and SMS, wear jeans, work out, drink Coke, smoke pot, and use words like cool.

An Anthology of True-Life Psychedelic Adventures
introduction by Charles Hayes

In Tripping, Charles Hayes has gathered fifty narratives about unforgettable psychedelic experiences from an international array of subjects representing all walks of life - respectable baby boomers, aging hippies, young ravers, and accomplished writers such as John Perry Barlow, Ann Waldman, and Tim Page. Specifically featured is an interview with Terence McKenna, perhaps the preeminent psychedelic spokesperson of our time.

The book is available on the FS Books Co. Website.

Baby Boomers Find RV Travel 70 Percent More Affordable than Most Other Vacations

Excerpt:

According to a 2001 study commissioned by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) and conducted by the University of Michigan, U.S. ownership of RVs is skyrocketing, and the baby boomer market is one of the primary reasons for the increase in RV sales. More RVs are owned by baby boomers than by any other age group, according to the study, and baby boomers are also the fastest growing segment of the RV market.

“Overall, there is a strong and enduring appeal to the RV lifestyle that is as valid today as it was 20 years ago,” says University of Michigan Survey Research Center Director Dr. Richard Curtin.

Why are Baby Boomers Choosing RV Travel?

In a survey conducted by Robert Hitlin Associates, the reasons most often cited for the popularity of RV travel were bringing the family closer together, having new experiences, and teaching a respect for nature. It probably doesn’t hurt that 16,000 campgrounds nationwide cater to RV travelers.

Many RV campgrounds offer swimming pools, recreation centers, evening entertainment programs, snack bars and camp stores. RV campgrounds are typically located near popular tourist attractions and historic sites, making it easy for people to park their RV and use it as a home base from which to explore local points of interest.